[lug] The Call Is Out for IT Experts

[John Starkey]

This was posted to another list.

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http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,46821,00.html

The Call Is Out for IT Experts 
By Michelle Delio 

2:00 a.m. Sep. 14, 2001 PDT  
NEW YORK -- Techies of the world, New York City needs you. 

Red Cross workers at the scene of the disaster desperately need computer
equipment and technically skilled volunteers to aid in the recovery effort. 

And soon, many businesses in the downtown area will need help and hardware
to get back on their feet. 

"The New York American Red Cross is in dire need of technology equipment and
services," said Joe Leo, assistant director of the American Red Cross in New
York. 
 
The field workers and rescue sites have little, if any, means of
communication, and the central office is processing way too much on
completely paper systems. Any help in acquiring these resources would be
greatly appreciated," Leo said. 

Leo said there is a specific and immediate need for Citrix server engineers
and Microsoft-certified consultants to help in setting up systems that will
assist rescue workers in communicating and coordinating the recovery effort.


The New York Red Cross also needs laptops, wireless networking cards,
printers, CD burners and other equipment. 

"Essentially, anything you can give us, we can use," Leo said. 

Donations of equipment can be sent to Leo's office: 150 Amsterdam Avenue,
New York, NY 10023. Leo said that his e-mail, and the Red Cross servers, has
been hit with heavy traffic and asked that only those who wish to volunteer
contact him directly. 

Fredrick Addorama, a recently laid-off network administrator, volunteered
his services, on Wednesday, at the Family Services Center that has been set
up in New York's 29th Street Armory. 

The center is assisting families who are searching for missing loved ones. 

Addorama said he was told there is an urgent need to develop a single system
that can track missing people, and the city is attempting to set up a
database containing pictures, dental records and descriptions of the
missing. 

"If you are a geek in New York, I'd strongly suggest that you head over to
the nearest police station, Red Cross office, or emergency center and
volunteer your time and expertise," Addorama said. "And if you are not here,
please come if you can. If you don't have skills, send computer equipment.
If you don't have equipment, sponsor a techie. Get them here. We need them."


A spokesman at New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's office said the city
welcomes donations of computer equipment and technically skilled people's
time. 

"Whatever you have that you can spare, you can bet this city needs it," the
spokesman said. 

Those who wish to contribute can get further information at the New York
City Government website (http://www.nyc.gov/). 

Some technology companies have already responded to New York's need. 

Nextel, a wireless communications company, has loaned more than 12,000
wireless phones with digital two-way radio service capabilities to
government agencies and the American Red Cross in New York City and
Washington. 

The twin towers were a major communications hub for Manhattan, and equipment
and antennas that transmitted millions of calls each day now lay buried
under a mountain of smoking rubble. 

While it's difficult for city residents to be without regular phone service
during the crisis, the real issue is that emergency workers are struggling
to communicate with each other through cell phones, which more often than
not are unable to pick up a signal. 

"Communication is beyond crucial in a time like this. We --all the rescue
workers -- need to have immediate access to each other," fireman Dan
McCormick said. 

Microsoft announced Thursday it is giving $5 million in cash and $5 million
in software and services to help relief groups and government agencies.
Microsoft is also assembling response teams to help customers in New York
and at the Pentagon rebuild their computer networks, spokesman Rick Belluzzo
said. 

A spokesman for Dell Computers said that the company is in discussions about
donating equipment and that Dell is giving first priority to building and
shipping supplies needed by rescue and emergency workers. 

There is no official agency handling requests from New York businesses for
technically skilled volunteers at this time. Most of the attention and
effort is still being directed to the rescue efforts. 

"It'd sure be easier if there was one number to call," said Jeff Carter, a
programmer who wants to help local businesses recover. "But right now I
suggest that people make calls to agencies and companies in New York. Or
just show up at crisis centers prepared to work. At first, until the efforts
here are more coordinated, you may be asked to hand out water bottles to the
rescue workers. It doesn't matter. Just show up." 

Tech publication Computerworld (http://www.computerworld.com/) is attempting
to organize a volunteer corps of techies to assist those in need of help. 

Information on Computerworld's Volunteer IT program is available on the
publication's website. 

Mike Lackey, with AIT Global, a technical workers association, has asked all
AIT members, and the entire tech community, to sign on at Computerworld's
site. 

"The businesses that are still somewhat intact, or who have hope for
rebuilding themselves, will soon be looking for help with their IT
infrastructure," Lackey said in an e-mail. "Let's all pitch in together to
make the rebuilding of downtown NYC as successful as possible." 

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